ATLANTA: GUARDS: GM Danny Ferry has really talked up JEFF TEAGUE, who will be more of a traditional point guard with Joe Johnson gone . . . DEVIN HARRIS is going to play plenty of minutes, both alongside Teague and off the bench . . . LOU WILLIAMS is a sixth man. He lacks the mentality to run the point and the size to guard opposing twos. His role will be similar to what it was in Philly . . . KYLE KORVER and ANTHONY MORROW are pure shooters who do little else. They can play the three in a pinch, and the hot hand will get the minutes . . . Coach Larry Drew could call on DeSHAWN STEVENSON for the occasional defense-heavy lineup. More likely, he'll rack up the DNP-CDs . . . JOHN JENKINS might be the best shooter in the rookie class, but he'll be buried on the depth chart. FORWARDS: JOSH SMITH rescinded his trade demand, perhaps because he'll now be the focal point of the offense. He was more aggressive on both ends of the floor last year. As long as he resists the urge to float on the perimeter, he should emerge as an All-Star . . . Considering the makeup of this roster, Atlanta will utilize a lot of three-guard lineups. Korver and Morrow can stretch a defense from that third guard/small forward spot, with Stevenson stepping in as an agitator . . . After scoring double-figures six times in April, IVAN JOHNSON was re-signed to once again provide some muscle inside . . . Rookie MIKE SCOTT is polished after five years at Virginia, but doesn't have the athleticism to be an impact player . . . ANTHONY TOLLIVER is a defensive specialist with very little offense to contribute. CENTERS: AL HORFORD will get his wish to play more power forward this season, though he'll remain their primary option at center. He's healthy again and is one of the most consistent bigs in the NBA . . . ZAZA PACHULIA filled in admirably for Horford last year. But it's back to bench duty for the bruising big . . . JOHAN PETRO is French for "12th man."

DENVER: GUARDS: TY LAWSON has emerged as the closest thing to a No. 1 option on this team, and despite his size, he's proven capable of playing full-time minutes. He'll continue to post big numbers in an up-tempo system that suits him perfectly . . . ANDRE MILLER will both back up Lawson and share the court with him at times (though Andre Iguodala figures to play a lot of two this season). The steady veteran is one of the league's most underrated sixth men . . . It's a bit surprising that EVAN FOURNIER is making the jump to the NBA this year. His size and skill combo will be nice on the wing one day, but he's unlikely to contribute this year . . . JULYAN STONE will be out until January after offseason hip surgery, but he should be Lawson's main backup upon his return. FORWARDS: DANILO GALLINARI is their most complete offensive player. If healthy, he's capable of being a 20-PPG scorer . . . ANDRE IGUODALA should enjoy the much faster pace Denver plays at. He'll see full-time minutes between both wing spots . . . KENNETH FARIED isn't a skilled big, but he's a high-energy guy who can get his own points off offensive rebounds . . . WILSON CHANDLER could end up leading their second unit in minutes and points . . . COREY BREWER is a front office favorite. He'll stay in the rotation as a defensive presence/glue guy . . . JORDAN HAMILTON could break into the rotation. He's one-dimensional, but has the offensive skills . . . Denver will try to solve the ANTHONY RANDOLPH riddle. Don't expect it to happen this year. CENTERS: Denver is all-in on internet punchline JaVALE McGEE. They'll give the athletic 7-footer every chance to become the star they think he can be. Whether the flaky McGee can capitalize is questionable . . . TIMOFEY MOZGOV is one of the NBA's best screeners, but his touches will be limited . . . KOSTA KOUFOS has quietly developed into a usable rotation player, but he might be squeezed out of minutes.

The Denver Nuggets are one of the highest scoring teams in the NBA, and their bench is a big reason they seem headed for a 10th straight trip to the playoffs.

Playing at home is also a big help.

The Nuggets look for another strong effort from the bench Monday night, when they go for their longest single-season home winning streak in eight years against the Atlanta Hawks.

Denver (38-22) ranks third in the NBA with 105.5 points per game, and the bench contributes regularly - also ranking third with an average of 39.9 points. That's been key to the Nuggets entering this contest fifth in the Western Conference, eight games clear of the postseason cutoff.

They've strengthened their position with a four-game winning streak during which they've averaged 112.0 points - 46.5 coming from their reserves.

"Honestly, I thought I'd have a pretty good night but 35? No," said Chandler, who averages 11.3 points and scored 30 combined in the two previous games starting in place of the injured Danilo Gallinari. "I was playing in my rhythm and taking open shots."

Denver's 10-game home win streak is its longest in a single season at home since reeling off 12 in a row from March 16-April 19, 2005.

Gallinari leads the way with a career-high 16.7 points per game, but he's looking for improvement after making just 2 of 7 from the floor to finish with seven on Friday in his return from a thigh bruise.

Lawson made 5 of 14 from the floor, totaling 11 points after averaging 26.1 over the previous eight contests.

He scored a season-high 32 while connecting on 12 of 16 from the floor, including all five from long range, while adding seven assists and five steals in a 108-104 loss at Atlanta (33-25) on Dec. 5.

A change of venue should benefit Denver, which needs a victory to match Miami's league-leading 26-3 home record.

The Nuggets have won five straight at home versus the Hawks, averaging 111.8 points while connecting on 40.9 percent of their attempts from behind the arc.

Atlanta enters this visit trying to finish this six-game trip above .500. The team has dropped the last two games, with the most recent coming in dramatic fashion Sunday, when Kobe Bryant scored the decisive basket on a driving layup past Josh Smith with 9 seconds left, sending the Hawks to a 99-98 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Smith finished with 19 points, seven assists, seven rebounds and three blocks against the Lakers, but committed three turnovers - one coming with 2 seconds to play. Still, the performance was an improvement after he shot 2 for 11 and finished with five points in Friday's 92-87 loss at Phoenix.

Smith's 33 points were wasted in the most recent visit to Denver on March 13, when the Hawks fell 118-117 in overtime.

Al Horford missed that meeting with an ankle injury, but he had 25 points with 12 rebounds against the Nuggets in December. He's averaging 25.1 points and 11.1 boards over the past eight games.